sit

/sɪt/

verb (mainly intransitive) sits, sitting, sat

1.

(also transitive; when intr, often foll by down, in, or on) to adopt or rest in a posture in which the body is supported on the buttocks and thighs and the torso is more or less upright: to sit on a chair, sit a horse

2.

(transitive) to cause to adopt such a posture

3.

(of an animal) to adopt or rest in a posture with the hindquarters lowered to the ground

4.

(of a bird) to perch or roost

5.

(of a hen or other bird) to cover eggs to hatch them; brood

6.

to be situated or located

7.

(of the wind) to blow from the direction specified

8.

to adopt and maintain a posture for one's portrait to be painted, etc

9.

to occupy or be entitled to a seat in some official capacity, as a judge, elected representative, etc

10.

(of a deliberative body) to be convened or in session

11.

to remain inactive or unused: his car sat in the garage for a year

12.

to rest or lie as specified: the nut was sitting so awkwardly that he couldn't turn it

13.

(of a garment) to fit or hang as specified: that dress sits well on you

With past tense sat, formerly also set, now restricted to dialect, and sate, now archaic; and past participle sat, formerly sitten. In reference to a legislative assembly, from 1510s. Meaning "to baby-sit" is recorded from 1966.

To sit back "be inactive" is from 1943. To sit on one's hands was originally "to withhold applause" (1926); later, "to do nothing" (1959). To sit around "be idle, do nothing" is 1915, American English. To sit out "not take part" is from 1650s. Sitting pretty is from 1916.